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Pulido Mantas T, Roveta C, Calcinai B, Campanini C, Coppari M, Falco P, Di Camillo CG, Garrabou J, Lee MC, Memmola F, Cerrano C. Mesophotic zone as buffer for biodiversity protection: A promising opportunity to enhance MPA effectiveness. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 201:106676. [PMID: 39142217 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Coastal areas conservation strategies often left deeper habitats, such as mesophotic ones, unprotected and exposed to anthropogenic activities. In this context, an approach for including the mesophotic zone inside protection plans is proposed, considering 27 Italian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as a model. MPAs were classified considering their bathymetries, exposure to marine heat waves (MHWs), mass mortality events (MMEs) and, using a local ecological knowledge (LEK) approach, the estimated resilience of certain sessile species after MMEs. Only 8 MPAs contained considerable mesophotic areas, with stronger MHWs mainly occurring in shallower MPAs, and MMEs mostly affecting coralligenous assemblages. Even with only a 10% response rate, the LEK approach provided useful information on the resilience of certain species, allowing us to suggest that the presence of nearby mesophotic areas can help shallower habitats facing climate change, thus making the "deep refugia" hypothesis, usually related to tropical habitats, applicable also for the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torcuato Pulido Mantas
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche s.n.c., 60131 Ancona, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
| | - Camilla Roveta
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche s.n.c., 60131 Ancona, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy.
| | - Barbara Calcinai
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche s.n.c., 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Claudia Campanini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche s.n.c., 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Martina Coppari
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche s.n.c., 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Falco
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche s.n.c., 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Cristina Gioia Di Camillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche s.n.c., 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Joaquim Garrabou
- Institute of Marine Sciences-CSIC (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Man Chun Lee
- Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Francesco Memmola
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche s.n.c., 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche s.n.c., 60131 Ancona, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy; Stazione Zoologica di Napoli Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Via Francesco Caracciolo s.n.c., 80122 Napoli, Italy; Fano Marine Center, Viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, Italy
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Orlando-Bonaca M, Trkov D, Klun K, Pitacco V. Diversity of Molluscan Assemblage in Relation to Biotic and Abiotic Variables in Brown Algal Forests. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11162131. [PMID: 36015433 PMCID: PMC9415959 DOI: 10.3390/plants11162131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Canopy-forming macroalgae, mainly those belonging to the order Fucales, form the so-called brown algal forests, which are among the most productive assemblages in shallow coastal zones. Their vertical, branching canopies increase nearshore primary production, provide nursery areas for juvenile fish, and sustain understory assemblages of smaller algae and both sessile and vagile fauna. The majority of benthic invertebrates inhabiting these forests have larval stages that spend some time floating freely or swimming in the plankton. Therefore, canopy-forming macroalgae play an important role as species collectors related to larval supply and hydrodynamic processes. During the past several decades, brown algal forests have significantly reduced their extension and coverage in the Mediterranean basin, due to multiple interacting natural and anthropogenic pressures, with negative consequences also for the related fauna. The aim of this research was to examine how differences in macrophyte abundance and structure, as well as environmental variables, affect the associated molluscan communities in the shallow northern Adriatic Sea. Sampling sites with well-developed vegetation cover dominated by different canopy-forming species were selected in the shallow infralittoral belt of the northern Adriatic Sea in the spring–summer period of the years 2019 and 2020. Our results confirm the importance of algal forests for molluscan assemblage, with a total of 68 taxa of molluscs found associated with macrophytes. Gastropods showed the highest richness and abundance, followed by bivalves. Mollusc richness and diversity (in terms of biotic indices) were not related with the degree of development of canopy-forming species (in terms of total cover and total volume), nor with the ecological status of benthic macroalgae at different depths. On the contrary, the variability in molluscan taxa abundances was explained by some environmental variables, such as temperature, pH, light, and nitrates concentration.
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Ceccherelli G, Addis P, Atzori F, Cadoni N, Casu M, Coppa S, De Luca M, de Lucia GA, Farina S, Fois N, Frau F, Gazale V, Grech D, Guala I, Mariani M, Marras MSG, Navone A, Pansini A, Panzalis P, Pinna F, Ruiu A, Scarpa F, Piazzi L. Sea urchin harvest inside marine protected areas: an opportunity to investigate the effects of exploitation where trophic upgrading is achieved. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12971. [PMID: 35282273 PMCID: PMC8908888 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Marine protected areas (MPAs) usually have both positive effects of protection for the fisheries' target species and indirect negative effects for sea urchins. Moreover, often in MPAs sea urchin human harvest is restricted, but allowed. This study is aimed at estimating the effect of human harvest of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus within MPAs, where fish exploitation is restricted and its density is already controlled by a higher natural predation risk. The prediction we formulated was that the lowest densities of commercial sea urchins would be found where human harvest is allowed and where the harvest is restricted, compared to where the harvest is forbidden. Methods At this aim, a collaborative database gained across five MPAs in Sardinia (Western Mediterranean, Italy) and areas outside was gathered collecting sea urchin abundance and size data in a total of 106 sites at different degrees of sea urchin exploitation: no, restricted and unrestricted harvest sites (NH, RH and UH, respectively). Furthermore, as estimates made in past monitoring efforts (since 2005) were available for 75 of the sampled sites, for each of the different levels of exploitation, the rate of variation in the total sea urchin density was also estimated. Results Results have highlighted that the lowest sea urchin total and commercial density was found in RH sites, likely for the cumulative effects of human harvest and natural predation. The overall rate of change in sea urchin density over time indicates that only NH conditions promoted the increase of sea urchin abundance and that current local management of the MPAs has driven towards an important regression of populations, by allowing the harvest. Overall, results suggest that complex mechanisms, including synergistic effects between natural biotic interactions and human pressures, may occur on sea urchin populations and the assessment of MPA effects on P. lividus populations would be crucial to guide management decisions on regulating harvest permits. Overall, the need to ban sea urchin harvest in the MPAs to avoid extreme reductions is encouraged, as inside the MPAs sea urchin populations are likely under natural predation pressures for the trophic upgrading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Ceccherelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Farmacia, Universitá di Sassari, Via Piandanna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Piero Addis
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Universitá di Cagliari, Via Fiorelli, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Atzori
- Capo Carbonara –Villasimius Marine Protected Area, Via Roma, Villasimius (CA), Italy
| | - Nicoletta Cadoni
- Capo Carbonara –Villasimius Marine Protected Area, Via Roma, Villasimius (CA), Italy
| | - Marco Casu
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria –Sez. Fisiologia della Nutrizione e Zoologia, Universitá di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Stefania Coppa
- Istituto per lo studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (IAS) –Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Loc. Sa Mardini, Torre Grande (OR), Italy
| | - Mario De Luca
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Farmacia, Universitá di Sassari, Via Piandanna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Andrea de Lucia
- Istituto per lo studio degli Impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (IAS) –Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Loc. Sa Mardini, Torre Grande (OR), Italy
| | - Simone Farina
- IMC –International Marine Centre, Loc. Sa Mardini, Torre Grande, OR, Italy,SZN –Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale Napoli, Italy
| | - Nicola Fois
- Agris –Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia –Bonassai SS, Sassari, Italy
| | - Francesca Frau
- Capo Carbonara –Villasimius Marine Protected Area, Via Roma, Villasimius (CA), Italy
| | - Vittorio Gazale
- Isola dell’Asinara Marine Protected Area, via Ponte Romano, Porto Torres (SS), Italy
| | - Daniele Grech
- IMC –International Marine Centre, Loc. Sa Mardini, Torre Grande, OR, Italy
| | - Ivan Guala
- IMC –International Marine Centre, Loc. Sa Mardini, Torre Grande, OR, Italy
| | - Mariano Mariani
- Capo Caccia –Isola Piana Marine Protected Area, Loc. Tramariglio SP, Alghero, SS, Italy
| | - Massimo SG Marras
- Penisola del Sinis –Isola di Mal di Ventre Marine Protected Area, Corso Italia, Cabras, OR, Italy
| | - Augusto Navone
- Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area, Via S. Giovanni, Olbia (SS), Italy
| | - Arianna Pansini
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Farmacia, Universitá di Sassari, Via Piandanna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Pieraugusto Panzalis
- Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area, Via S. Giovanni, Olbia (SS), Italy
| | - Federico Pinna
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Farmacia, Universitá di Sassari, Via Piandanna, Sassari, Italy
| | - Alberto Ruiu
- Capo Caccia –Isola Piana Marine Protected Area, Loc. Tramariglio SP, Alghero, SS, Italy
| | - Fabio Scarpa
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria –Sez. Fisiologia della Nutrizione e Zoologia, Universitá di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Luigi Piazzi
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Farmacia, Universitá di Sassari, Via Piandanna, Sassari, Italy
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Bertocci I, De Oliveira Martins MI, Meyer HS, Gómez OB, Maggi E, Arenas F. Resurvey of sea urchins and mussels at protected and harvested shores a decade after: A beyond-BACI approach. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 169:105347. [PMID: 33965722 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Comparing temporal patterns of distribution and abundance of target organisms between protected and harvested shores is essential to assess the extant effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) and whether it is maintained through time. By means of an adapted Beyond-BACI approach, we compared the short- and long-term patterns of variation in the abundance of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis at a protected shore (within the Parque Litoral Norte MPA, Portugal) and at three adjacent shores subject to intense harvesting over a decadal interval. Despite the existence of the MPA for more than 30 years, we did not obtain clear evidence of its persistent or recent effectiveness on intertidal species of commercial interest. We suggest the need for refining management options along the northern Portuguese coast, possibly by better enforcing current regulations and reconsidering the present design of protection schemes. Moreover, the adopted analytical approach may represent a methodological reference for similar investigations in systems where the perturbation of interest (protection or disturbance) would not occur at a given time during the course of the study, but has been operating since before the first sampling occasion and maintained until subsequent surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iacopo Bertocci
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy.
| | - Marta Isabel De Oliveira Martins
- CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Novo Terminal de Cruzeiros, Avenida General Norton de Matos Sn, P-4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Hugo Sainz Meyer
- CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Novo Terminal de Cruzeiros, Avenida General Norton de Matos Sn, P-4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Oscar Babé Gómez
- CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Novo Terminal de Cruzeiros, Avenida General Norton de Matos Sn, P-4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Elena Maggi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francisco Arenas
- CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Novo Terminal de Cruzeiros, Avenida General Norton de Matos Sn, P-4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
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5
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Orlando-Bonaca M, Pitacco V, Slavinec P, Šiško M, Makovec T, Falace A. First Restoration Experiment for Gongolaria barbata in Slovenian Coastal Waters. What Can Go Wrong? PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:239. [PMID: 33530631 PMCID: PMC7911296 DOI: 10.3390/plants10020239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The global decline of brown algal forests along rocky coasts is causing an exceptional biodiversity loss. Regardless of conservation efforts, different techniques have been developed for large-scale restoration strategies in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study we tested ex situ pilot restoration of Gongolaria barbata (=Treptacantha barbata) for the first time in Slovenian coastal waters. Healthy apical fronds of the species were collected and the development of recruits on clay tiles was followed under laboratory conditions for 20 days. Despite the experimental difficulties experienced, especially due to the lack of antibiotics to prevent the growth of the biofilm, G. barbata recruits were outplanted in the sea on two concrete plates with 48 tiles each, protected by purpose-built cages to avoid grazing by herbivorous fish. The high survival rate of juveniles after four months in the field (89% of the tiles on the plate that was constantly protected) suggests that outplanting G. barbata is an operable approach for restoration efforts in the northern Adriatic Sea. Our first experiment in Slovenian coastal waters provides new information for the optimization of the best practices during the laboratory cultivation and addresses the early steps of restoration and introduction of young thalli in the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Orlando-Bonaca
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Valentina Pitacco
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Petra Slavinec
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Milijan Šiško
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Tihomir Makovec
- Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 41, SI-6330 Piran, Slovenia; (V.P.); (P.S.); (M.Š.); (T.M.)
| | - Annalisa Falace
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
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Davies CE. Invertebrate health in marine protected areas (MPAs). J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 186:107524. [PMID: 33359479 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Marine protected areas (MPAs) consist of various categories of safeguarded areas in the marine environment, from semi-protected areas to total no take zones. The reported effects of MPAs are overwhelmingly positive, with numerous reports of fish size (biomass), abundance (recovery) and diversity increases, however, literature is lacking on the role and consequences of MPAs on parasite and disease dynamics, and in particular, invertebrate health. The implementation of MPAs has been known to alter trophic cascades and community dynamics, and with invertebrates commonly at the base of these systems, it is vital that their status is investigated. Overcrowding in areas closed to fishing is known to have parasitological consequences in some scenarios, and land/water use change has been known to alter host and vector communities, possibly elevating disease risk. Equally, reserves can be used as tools for alleviating impacts of marine disease. This review aims to consolidate extant literature and provide a comprehensive viewpoint on how invertebrates (and their health status) can be affected by MPAs, which are increasingly being implemented based on the relative urgency now being placed on protecting global biodiversity. In highlighting the paucity of knowledge surrounding MPAs and disease, especially that of the unenigmatic invertebrate groups, this review, published in the Special Issue on 'Invertebrates as One Health Sentinels', provides an opportunity for wide dissemination and provocation of further research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E Davies
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP Wales, UK.
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7
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Medrano A, Hereu B, Mariani S, Neiva J, Pagès-Escolà M, Paulino C, Rovira GL, Serrão EA, Linares C. Ecological traits, genetic diversity and regional distribution of the macroalga Treptacantha elegans along the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean Sea). Sci Rep 2020; 10:19219. [PMID: 33154466 PMCID: PMC7644675 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76066-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The widespread decline of canopy-forming macroalgal assemblages has been documented in many regions during the last decades. This pattern is often followed by the replacement of structurally complex algal canopies by more simplified habitats (e.g., turfs or sea urchin barren grounds). Against all odds, the fucoid Treptacantha elegans, a large Mediterranean brown macroalga, broadened its depth range to deeper and exposed environments and displayed an unexpected range expansion along the northern coast of Catalonia over the last two decades. Here, we reconstruct the spread of T. elegans in time and space and unravel ecological and demographic traits such as population dynamics and genetic patterns to provide a comprehensive and integrated view of the current status and geographical expansion for this species. Fast-growing dynamics, early fertile maturity, and high turnover rate are the main competitive advantages that allow the exposed populations of T. elegans to colonize available substrata and maintain dense and patchy populations. We also provided evidence that the deeper and exposed populations of T. elegans constitute a single group across the Catalan coast, with little genetic differentiation among populations. This seems to support the hypothesis of a unique source of spread in the last decades from the Medes Islands No-Take Zone towards both southern and northern waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Medrano
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de La Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Bernat Hereu
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de La Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Simone Mariani
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de La Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes - CSIC, Accés Cala Sant Francesc 14, Blanes, 17300, Girona, Spain
| | - João Neiva
- Center of Marine Science (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Marta Pagès-Escolà
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de La Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Paulino
- Center of Marine Science (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Graciel la Rovira
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de La Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ester A Serrão
- Center of Marine Science (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Cristina Linares
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de La Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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8
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Marshall DA, Moore SC, Sutor M, La Peyre JF, La Peyre MK. Using reproductive potential to assess oyster population sustainability. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A. Marshall
- School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Baton Rouge LA 70803 U.S.A
| | - Samuel C. Moore
- School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Baton Rouge LA 70803 U.S.A
| | - Malinda Sutor
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Louisiana State University 2179 Energy, Coast, and Environment Bldg Baton Rouge LA 70803 U.S.A
| | - Jerome F. La Peyre
- School of Animal Sciences Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Baton Rouge LA 70803 U.S.A
| | - Megan K. La Peyre
- U.S. Geological Survey, Louisiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Renewable Natural Resources Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Baton Rouge LA 70803 U.S.A
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9
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Medrano A, Hereu B, Cleminson M, Pagès‐Escolà M, Rovira G, Solà J, Linares C. From marine deserts to algal beds:
Treptacantha elegans
revegetation to reverse stable degraded ecosystems inside and outside a No‐Take marine reserve. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alba Medrano
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)University of Barcelona Avinguda Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Bernat Hereu
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)University of Barcelona Avinguda Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Maria Cleminson
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)University of Barcelona Avinguda Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Marta Pagès‐Escolà
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)University of Barcelona Avinguda Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Graciel·la Rovira
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)University of Barcelona Avinguda Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Jordi Solà
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)University of Barcelona Avinguda Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Biosciences Research Center (CBRC)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Cristina Linares
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)University of Barcelona Avinguda Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
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10
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Glasby TM, Gibson PT. Decadal dynamics of subtidal barrens habitat. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 154:104869. [PMID: 31928986 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Rocky reef barrens that are devoid of macroalgae can be created by various mechanisms, and are often maintained in the long-term by grazing urchins. The persistence of barrens varies greatly among locations, although few studies have investigated the stability of this habitat over multiple decades, particularly at large spatial scales. We used aerial images to test for differences in temporal trajectories of shallow (2-10 m) barrens at 21 sites (average size 12 ha) over 30 years across 500 km of coastline in New South Wales, Australia. Longer-term (40-68 yr) trajectories of barrens cover were documented for five of the sites and these generally reflected the 30-year patterns. Averaged across all sites, barrens area increased at a rate of 19.9 ± 8.4 m2 per year per hectare of reef from 1980s-2010s. Importantly, however, 55% of sites had stable or fluctuating (±10% cover) barrens over this period, rather than displaying continual increases. Although the extent of shallow barrens increases with latitude, the temporal dynamics of barrens did not differ among three latitudinal regions where barrens are the most extensive. Associations between variability in barrens cover and environmental variables indicated that reef topography might pay a role in influencing barrens. Examples of such long-term persistence of extensive barrens are relatively rare and potential reasons for this and possible future changes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim M Glasby
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Taylors Beach, NSW, 2316, Australia.
| | - Peter T Gibson
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Taylors Beach, NSW, 2316, Australia
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Medrano A, Linares C, Aspillaga E, Capdevila P, Montero-Serra I, Pagès-Escolà M, Zabala M, Hereu B. Long-term monitoring of temperate macroalgal assemblages inside and outside a No take marine reserve. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 153:104826. [PMID: 31703945 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Macroalgal communities have an essential role in the shallow benthic habitats of temperate seas, where changes in their composition can resonate through entire coastal ecosystems. As all major ecosystems on Earth, algal beds have already been affected by multiple disturbances. Passive conservation tools, such as marine protected areas or No-take zones, have the potential to reduce some of the anthropogenic impacts by limiting human activity. However, without a good knowledge of the natural community dynamics, it is not easy to discern between changes fruit of the intrinsic variability of biological communities and the ones caused by human-related stressors. In this study, we evaluated the natural variability of macroalgal communities' composition inside and outside a Mediterranean No-Take marine reserve during 15 years. We described their temporal dynamics considering their main drivers and we tested the effect of protection in seaweed beds. We did not find differences either in the composition of the macroalgal assemblages or the total algal cover between protected and non-protected locations over the fifteen years of study. Nevertheless, we observed a positive effect of the protection increasing the cover of some specific species, such as the canopy-forming Treptacantha elegans. Our results highlight the importance of obtaining long-term data in ecological studies to better understand the natural variability of marine communities. Accordingly, a robust understanding of the community dynamics would help us to avoid misinterpretations between 'impacted' or 'in-recovery' communities when recovery times are longer than the study periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Medrano
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Cristina Linares
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eneko Aspillaga
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Marine Ecology, Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Pol Capdevila
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Ignasi Montero-Serra
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Pagès-Escolà
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mikel Zabala
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bernat Hereu
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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Riquelme-Pérez N, Musrri CA, Stotz WB, Cerda O, Pino-Olivares O, Thiel M. Coastal fish assemblages and predation pressure in northern-central Chilean Lessonia trabeculata kelp forests and barren grounds. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6964. [PMID: 31223523 PMCID: PMC6571002 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Kelp forests are declining in many parts of the globe, which can lead to the spreading of barren grounds. Increased abundances of grazers, mainly due to reduction of their predators, are among the causes of this development. Here, we compared the species richness (SR), frequency of occurrence (FO), and maximum abundance (MaxN) of predatory fish and their predation pressure between kelp forest and barren ground habitats of northern-central Chile. Sampling was done using baited underwater cameras with vertical and horizontal orientation. Two prey organisms were used as tethered baits, the black sea urchin Tetrapygus niger and the porcelanid crab Petrolisthes laevigatus. SR did not show major differences between habitats, while FO and MaxN were higher on barren grounds in vertical videos, with no major differences between habitats in horizontal videos. Predation pressure did not differ between habitats, but after 24 h consumption of porcelanid crabs was significantly higher than that of sea urchins. Scartichthys viridis/gigas was the main predator, accounting for 82% of the observed predation events on Petrolisthes laevigatus. Most of these attacks occurred on barren grounds. Scartichthys viridis/gigas was the only fish observed attacking (but not consuming) tethered sea urchins. High abundances of opportunistic predators (Scartichthys viridis/gigas) are probably related to low abundances of large predatory fishes. These results suggest that intense fishing activity on large predators, and their resulting low abundances, could result in low predation pressure on sea urchins, thereby contributing to the increase of T. niger abundances in subtidal rocky habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Catalina A Musrri
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Wolfgang B Stotz
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Osvaldo Cerda
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Oscar Pino-Olivares
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Martin Thiel
- Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Island (ESMOI), Coquimbo, Chile.,Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
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